Bluetooth technology isn’t new. Tired of wires and corded devices, we were quick to jump at the chance of devices that got rid of cords and worked wirelessly. But every technology has its shortcomings and Bluetooth may have a few issues that can be easily solved too. If your smart phone won’t connect or pair with Bluetooth and you are looking for the solutions to fix it, then we have some tips for you. We will identify the reasons for Bluetooth issues and look at the solutions that can help you fix the problem.

Why Bluetooth parings fail

To begin with, let us get the basics straight and the most obvious things sorted. Bluetooth is a technology that allows you to connect two devices wirelessly so that data and information can flow between the two devices. An important step to connect the devices is known as pairing. When you pair the Bluetooth devices successfully, data can be transferred easily from one to another. But if the pairing is unsuccessful or you are not able to pair the devices, then there is a problem with either the hardware or software of any of the two devices.

An important thing to realize is that your phone or the device you are going to pair it with is not always in pairing mode. Let us take the example of connecting a wireless headset to your phone using Bluetooth. You have to make sure that the headset is in the mode where it can be paired. That is, your headset should be in pairing mode. And your phone should be ready to scan the Bluetooth devices around it.

If they are not in the right mode, the devices won’t be able to connect. This is the most obvious and the very basic step to pair two Bluetooth devices. So when you are going to use Bluetooth to pair your phone with another device, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your smartphone and in the device you want to pair with your phone.

With the obvious out of the way, we can now concentrate on troubleshooting steps that will help you fix problems even after you have tried establishing a Bluetooth connection by switching on Bluetooth in both the devices.

What you can do

1.Determine which pairing process your device employs. The process for pairing devices can vary. Sometimes, for example, it involves tapping a code into your phone. Other times, you need to physically touch your phone to the device you want to pair it with; for example, the Mixcder HD601 uses NFC (near field communication) in combination with Bluetooth for pairing.

If you’re not sure how to pair a device, refer to its user guide; you can usually find one by searching online.

2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You should see the little Bluetooth symbol at the top of your phone’s screen. If you don’t, go into the settings to enable it.

3. Turn on discoverable mode. Let’s say you want to pair your phone with your car’s infotainment system so you can enjoy hands-free calling, texting and navigation. First, go into your phone’s settings and tap on Bluetooth; doing so makes the phone visible to the car. Then depress the buttons on your car’s infotainment system, usually on the steering wheel or center stack, to get it looking for the device.

Once it finds your phone, the car will display a numeric code you need to confirm or input on your phone. After you do so, the devices should be paired. Keep in mind your phone will only stay in discoverable mode for a few minutes; if you take too long, you’ll need to start over.

4. Power the devices off and back on. A soft reset sometimes can resolve an issue. With phones, an easy way to do this is by going into and out of airplane mode.

5. Delete a device from a phone and rediscover it. If your phone sees a device but isn’t receiving data from it, sometimes it helps to start from scratch. In iOS settings, you can remove a device by tapping on its name and then Forget this Device. In Android settings, tap on a device’s name, then Unpair. After removing a device, start at step 1 on this list.

6. Make sure the devices you want to pair are designed to connect with each other. Whether it’s a headset, speaker, mouse, keyboard, camera or something else, your device has a specific profile that spells out what it can connect with. If you’re not sure, check the user manual.

7. Download a driver. If you’re having problems pairing something with your PC, you might be lacking the correct driver. The simplest way to figure this out is to do an online search for the name of the device you’re trying to pair along with the word “driver.”

8. Update the hardware’s firmware. Some automotive audio systems recently wouldn’t pair with the iPhone 5, for example, because the Bluetooth drivers in these systems didn’t work with Bluetooth 4.0. If you’re not sure how to get the latest firmware for your hardware, check with the device manufacturer.

9. Make sure the two devices are in close enough proximity to one another. While you wouldn’t think someone might try to pair an iPad with a keyboard if the two weren’t sitting right next to each other, it’s probably worth noting that you should make sure any devices you’re trying to pair are within five feet of one other.

10. Keep in mind that not all wireless devices use Bluetooth. Alternatives include the Wireless Gigabit specification, Wireless HD, ANT+, ZigBee, NFC as well as Wi-Fi Direct. These other technologies typically won’t work with your phone, tablet or PC, Jawanda notes, without some kind of additional hardware.

Unfortunately, you can’t predict what problems will occur. If you’re considering purchasing new Bluetooth gear, a good first step would be to read consumer forums to see if people commonly report errors with the equipment you would use. Beyond that, consider a company’s support, update, and customer service records before buying a brand-new Bluetooth device.

If you are looking for a new pair of Bluetooth headphones, Mixcder MS301 or HD601 is a suggestion. The headsets Mixcder provide won’t let you down since they have reasonable price, good quality, and nice after-sales customer service.